Foldable step and wall ladder.



J. BENNETT.

FOLDABLE STEP AND WALL LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZ3, I915.

1 1 92,734. Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEET$SHEET l.

J. BENNETT.

FOLDABLE STEP AND WALL LADDER.

' APPLICATION FlLED JUNE 23, I915. 1 1 92 ?3 Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Emma

JOHN BENNETIZOFHEMPSTEAD, NEW, YORK.

FOLDABLE. STEPAND WALL LADDER.

Specification" of'Letters' Patent.

Patented'July 25, 191 6.

Application fi1edJune23; 1915. Serial No; 35,858.-

To all whom itmayiconcem:

Be it known that I, JOHN BENNETT, asubject of the King of; Grea-t Britain residing at Hempstead, in the county. of j Nassau and State of New Yorlqhave invented new and useful Improvements in-Foldable Step'and all Ladders, of Whiclrthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to foldable-step and extensible step ladder toancxtensiblewall ladder, and vice .versa. The parts ofithe ladder are so arranged that they maybe foldedin compact form for storage or transportation.

used as a step ladder inorderthat'the struc ture may bezplaced in position upon stair steps or upon inclined surfaces.-

lVith the above objects-in view the structure includes a step and a propsectionpivotally connected together and both provided Extensible step I and with steps or rungs. prop sections are mounted upon bothofthefirst mentioned sections respectively and these extensible sections if desired maybe provided with movablesteps. Securing clevices are provided forvholding the said mo-vable steps at adjusted position along the extensible sections."

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the structure showing the same set up as a step ladder. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same showing the parts set up as a wall or extension ladder. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts arranged for using the ladder on a set of steps. Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view of one of the extensions cut on the line ll of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a. sectional View of the structure cut on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing the ladder consists of sections 1 and 2, the section 1 being provided with arms 3 with which one end of the frame 2 is pivotally connected. The section 1 is provided with steps or treads l, and the section 2 is provided with rungs 5. The steps 4 and rungs 5 are fixed to the respective sections upon which they are mounted. The section 1 is provided in the vicinity of its lower end and at its sides with guides 6 which receive Also the ladderincludes features which permit the same to be-extended-whenthe upper end portions of astepextension section Theside bars of the step'extensionsection 7 are provided with longitudinal slots 8' and studs 9 pass through the said slots and are provided at their outer ends withwing nuts 10. By loosening the nuts 10 thesection 7 may be moved longitudinally along the sides of the section 1 and when the said section 7 is at a desired position with 5 relation to the said sectionl it may be secured by tightening the nuts 10 upon the studs 9.

Treads 11 are located between the sides of the section andthe ends of the said treads 7o arenormally held in'close contact With the inner surfaces of the side bars of the section 7 The treads 11 are provided'at their under side with recesses 12 which receive tie rods 13, and parts connected therewith. The tie rods .13 are provided at one'endwith heads 1 which bear against the outer surface of oneside-bar ofthe section 7' and at their other ends the said tie rods are provided with eyes-15.- Screws 16 are threaded in the so outerends of the eyes 15 and pass transversely through the slot 8 of one of the sides ofthe section 7. The screws 16 carry. at their outer ends wing heads 17, which, when, the

said screwsare tightened'in the eyes 13 are adapted to bear against the outer surfaceof one ofthesides of thesection 7, whereby the treads 11- are held atadj usted positions along; the said section 7.

It is apparentthatbycloosening the screws sides of the section 1. Therefore the section 7 may be extended or folded with relation to the section 1 to any extent within the limit of the length of the slots 8 and the section 7 may be secured with relation to the section 1 at any point between the ends of the said limit of movement. Also the treads 11 may be secured at desired intervals apart along the section 7.

Guides 18 are mounted in the vicinity of the free ends of the prop section 2- and at the sides thereof, and the side bars of a prop extension section 19 are slidably received in said guides 18. The side bars of the section 19 are provided With longitudinally disposed slots 20 and studs 21 are mounted 'upon the section 2 and are received in the said slots 20. Wing nuts 22 are threaded Cross bars 23 are secured at their ends to a the opposite ends of the opposite sides of the section 19 and serve as means for holding the said sides in proper position with relation to each other. Clips 2 1 are mounted at one end of the cross bars, 23 and are provided with bolts 25, which pass through the slots 20 and serve as means for securing one end of the bars 23 with relation to the sides of the section 19. I

It is apparent that by loosening the nuts 22 the section 19 may be shifted along the section 2 and secured at any desired point,

when the said nuts 22 are tightened upon the studs 21. Therefore when the structure is used as a step ladder the parts may be secured as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the ladder can be conveniently and safely used upon .stair steps, or upon an inclined surface.

Struts 26 are pivotally connected with the upper end portion of the section 1 and may be engaged with studs 27, mounted upon the section 2 whereby the said frames may be securely held in parallel relation with respect to each other as most clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. When so secured the ladder maybe used as an extension wall ladder.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a ladder of simple and durable structure is provided and that the structure may be easily and quickly transformed from a ladder of the step ladder type to a wall ladder and that the parts maybe extended or folded at will to permit of the use of the structure under various conditions and circumstances and to permit the same to be folded in compact form for shipment, storage or other purposes. I

Having described the invention What is claimed is 'A ladder comprising step and prop sections pivotally connected together, guides fixedly mounted at the free end portions of the sides of said sections, studs fixedly mounted at the free end portions of the sides of said sections at points between the said guides and the point of pivotal connection between the said sections, a step extension section having its sides slidably received in the guides upon the step section, the sides of the said step extension section having longitudinally disposed slots which receive the studs upon the step section, steps movably mounted between the sides of the step extension section and having securing devices which pass through the slots in the sides of the said step extension section, said securing devices being embedded in the steps above the lower surfaces thereof, a prop extension section having sides slidably received in the guides upon the prop section, the sides of the prop extension section having longitudinally disposed slots which receivethe studs upon the said prop section.

In testimony whereof I aflixomy signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN BENNETT.

Witnesses:

HAROLD L. HAsKIN, LINCO N B. HASKIN.

Copies of this patent ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

